middlebeook



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

O. MIDDLEBROOK.

COIN OPERATED MACHINE.

No. 453,496. Patented June 2, 1891.

(No Model.) 3 SheetsShe et 2,

C. MIDDLEBROOK. 00m OPERATED MACHINE.

No. 453,496: Patented June 2,1891.

(No Model.) '3 SheetsSheet 3.

G. MIDDLEBROOK.

COIN OPERATED MACHINE.

No: 453,496. Patented June 2,1891.

Nirnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES MIDDLEBROOK, OF BROMLEY, ENGLAND.

COIN=OPERATED MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 453,496, dated June 2, 1891.

Application filed July 10, 1890. Serial No. 358,341. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES MIDDLEBRoOK, a subject of the Queen of Great'Britain. and Ireland, residing at Bromley, in the county of Middlesex, England, have invented new or Improved Apparatus for Receiving (Join or an Equivalent and Supplying Gas in Exchange Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new or improved apparatus for receiving coin or an equivalent, such as any suitable pieces of metal, (hereinafter included in the expression coin,) and supplying gas in exchange therefor, and particularly to that class of apparatus for these purposes in which locking and releasing mechanism is so combined with a gas-meter of any suitable construction that by the in troduction of a coin the meter will be released and allowed to deliver a given quantity or measurement of gas, and then will be automatically arrested and locked, so as to cease delivery until again released by another coin, and so on.

In my apparatus there is combined with the gas-meter mechanism of novel construction, as hereinafter described, which mechanism comprises a lever so arranged in relation to a coin chute or passage and to a device or part operated by the meter when the latter is delivering gas that the lever, when not depressed by a coin, forms a stop and prevents the working of the meter; but when a OO 1111S introduced so as to depress one endof said lever the before-mentioned device is no longer obstructed, and the meter being thus released goes on delivering gas until the quantity of gas to be supplied in exchange for the coin or coins that was or were on the lever has been supplied, whereupon said coin or the last one, if there had been several, will be caused to pass into a coin-receptacle, and the lever will assume a position in. which it will again lock the meter until another coin or coins is or are inserted into the machin e, and so on; and in order that others skilled in the art may be enabled to make and use my invention, I proceed to explain the same more fully by reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows inside elevation an apparatus according to this invention for receiving coin or equivalent and supplying gas in exchange therefor, certain parts of the apparatus being removed for the sake of clearness. Fig. 2 is a plan of the apparatus with covers and coin-chute removed. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of part of the apparatus on the line to a", Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a separate view of the coin-lever in side elevation. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the apparatus.

In the example shown the gas-meterA is a dry one provided with measuring-bellows that oscillate two vertical spindles l 1, upon which are fixed lever-arms 2 2, respectively, by which motion is transmitted from the spindles to the worm-wheel 3 011 the shaft 1 of the counting mechanism 5 through links 6 and 7, pin 8, adjustable nut 9, crank-arm 10, shaft 11, and worm 12. 13 is the inlet for gas, and let the outlet. The construction and operation of these parts are well known, and of themselves form 110 part of this invention. The coin-rcceiving mechanism for use with this meter comprises an inclined coin-chute 15, below which is a coin-lever 10, pivoted at 17. One end of this lever is arranged below the lower open end of the chute, and the other end, which is weighted, is recessed at 18 to form a stop for an arm 19 when the lever 16 is in the position shown in Fig. l. The arm 19 is fixed to the spindle 1 and is oscillated thereby when the meter is in action; but when its motion is arrested it stops the working of the meter. In lieu of the arm 19, any other suitable device or part operated by the meter when the same is delivering gas can be used.

20 is a starting-lever so formed and arranged that its lower end will be caused to exert pressure through a coin B to depress the lever 16 and disengage it from the arm 19 should this be pressed so tightly against the lever by the pressure of the gas acting upon the internal mechanism of the meter when the meter is locked as not to be released by the weight of the coin alone. As will be seen,

this starting-lever 20 is so arranged that it can only operate the coin'lever 16 when a coin is located between them.

21 is a chute through which a coin passes into a suitable receptacle after it has unlocked the meter and kept it unlocked while the equivalent quantity of gas is being delivered.

22 is a projection, hereinafter called a divider, arranged Within the chute and between this chute and the chute 21.

23 is a projection,part, or cam, hereinafter referred to as a cam, carried by a toothed wheel 24, which is rotated from the worm 12 by a worm-wheel 25, shaft pinion 26, toothed wheel 27, shaft 28, and toothed wheel 29.

is a fixed plate for supporting the outer ends of the shafts carrying the toothed wheels 24, 26, 27, and 29 W 1 21 is an abutment in front of which the lower end of the lever 16 moves when being depressed and against which the coin rests so as to maintain the lever in its depressed position until it is raised by the cam 23, as hereinafter described.

In lieu of the cam 23 any other suitable device operated by the meter and arranged to act against the coin-lever in opposition to the weight of the coin thereon, as hereinafter described, can be used. Such a device is included in the generic expression cam, hereinafter used.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: A coin B-say a penny-dropped into the chute 15 through the money-slot at 15,Fi g. 1, will roll down the chute and onto the lower end of the coin-lever 16. The weight of the coin, aided by pressure exerted through the coin by the starting-lever 20, will depress the lower end of the lever onto the top of the cam 23, thereby raising the other end of the lever sufficiently to release the arm 19 and unlock the meter. On the further falling of the camlever 16, as the cam 23 rotates from under it, the coin upon it will fall with it, but does not pass out of contact with the divider 22 until the extreme lower end of the lever is at such a distance below the top edge of the coin stop or abutment 21 that'this stop or abutment will prevent the coin, when it rolls under the divider, from passing into the chute 21. The meter will then supply gas until the lower 7 end of the lever 16 is partly raised by the cam'23 assuming its uppermost position, at which time the coin will be raised sufficiently by the lever to clear the stop or abutment 21 and roll into the chute 21.

One coin only can pass into the chute 21 at a time, and should there be more than onein the money-slot the first coin will pass under the divider 22 and the second coin will, on the partial rising of the lever 16, be separated from the first by the divider 22, the first coin being on the side of the divider nearest the chute 21,while the next coin will be on the opposite side. The lever 16 is so Weighted or pivoted that when no coin rests upon its lower end this end will rise and the upper end will fall sufficiently to come into the path of the arm 19, and so stop the meter; but so long as there is a coin present to act upon the lower end of the lever 16 neither the weight of the upper end of the lever or the cam 23 will cause the lever to assume a position in which it will lock the arm 19 and stop the delivery of gas. The gearing for driving the cam 23 from the worm 12 is so proportioned that the cam makes one complete revolution While the quantity of gas to be delivered in exchange for a coin is passing through the meter.

At one portion of its length the outer wall of the coin-chute 15 is formed with an opening 31, Fig. 3, and at this part the bottom of the chute on which a coin rolls is slightly rounded off or beveled, as shown at 32, so that a coin passing down the chute has a tendency toslip sidewise through the opening before reaching the lower end of the coin-lever 16. The width of the chute 15 and the depth of the opening 31 are so proportioned that a penny will not slip out, being too thick, but a half-penny or less coin will do so and fall through the chute 33, so that it cannot be used to start the meter. the side walls of the chute 15 are inclined to the vertical, as shown in Fig. 3, and the inner wall is formed with an opening 31, that will allow a coin smaller than the proper one to become inclined sufficiently to fall through the opening 31.

The starting-lever 20 need only be used after the meter has been at rest to assist the first coin resting on the lever 16 to release this lever from the arm 19. The starting-lever 20 can be moved by means of the small knob 20.

34. is a cover that incloses the coin-receiving apparatus, excepting the coin-slot at 15 and the upper endof the starting-lever 20.

What I claim is 1. In an apparatus for receiving coin or an equivalent and supplying gas in exchange therefor, the combination, with a meter, of coin-receiving mechanism comprising a coinlever arranged to serve when not depressed by a coin as a stop to the meter, a coin-stop adapted to prevent a coin from prematurely leaving said lever, a cam actuated by the said meter and arranged to act at the required time upon said coin-lever, and a divider arranged above said lever, substantially as hereinabove described, for the purposes specified.

2. In an apparatus for receiving coin or an equivalent and supplying gas in exchange therefor, the combination, with a meter, of coin-receiving mechanism comprising a coinlever arranged to be acted upon by a coin or coins and capable of forming a stop to a device or part operated by said meter when it is delivering gas, a cam also actuated by said meter and arranged to act at the required time upon said lever in opposition to the weight of coin thereon, and a starting-lever adapted to be operated from the exterior of the apparatus and to then exert pressure upon the coin-lever if there be a suitable coin between the two, substantially as herein described, for the purpose specified.

3. In an apparatus for receiving coin or an equivalent and supplying gas in exchange To assist this action therefor, the combination,witha meter, of coinreceiving mechanism comprising a coin-chute, a coin-operated device capable of forming a stop to a device or part worked by said meter when delivering gas, a cam also actuated by said meter and arranged to act at the required time upon said coin-operated device in opposition to the weight of coin thereon, a divider arranged opposite said coin-lever and within said chute, and a second chute at the side of said divider opposite to said first chute, substantially as herein described, for the purpose specified.

4. In an apparatus for receiving coin or an equivalent and supplying gas in exchange therefor, the combination ,with a meter, of coinreceiving mechanism comprising a coin-chute, a coin-operated device capable of forming a stop to a device or part worked by said meter when delivering gas, a divider arranged within said chute and opposite said coin-lever, a second chute at the inner side of said divider, an abutment arranged to retain the coin on said device when the same is depressed, and a cam also actuated by said meter and adapted to move said device into a position to discharge a coin thereon into the second chute, but not to stop said meter, substantially as herein described,for the purpose specified.

5. In an apparatus for receiving coin or an equivalent and supplying gas in exchange therefor,the combination,with a meter, of coinreceiving mechanism comprising acoin-chute with open slot for insertion of coin, a divider arranged at the inner end of said chute, a second coin-chute at the opposite side of said divider, a coin-lever having one end arranged below the inner end of the first coin-chute and capable of forming a stop to a device or part worked by said meter when delivering gas, and an abutment in front of which the one end of said coin lever moves when depressed and against which a coin-supported by the depressed end of said lever can rest, substantially as herein described.

0. In an apparatus for receiving coin or an equivalent and supplying gas in exchange therefor, the combination,with a meter having a movable arm 19, of coin-receiving mechanthe inner end of said coin-chute and the other arm recessed to act as a stop to said movable arm 19, a divider arranged within said chute and above said lever, a second coin-chute 21 at the inner side of said divider, an abutment 21 for a coin when in its lowered position, and a cam 23, actuated by said meter when delivering gas, substantially as herein described, for the purposes set forth.

7. In an apparatus for receiving coin or an equivalent and supplying gas in exchange therefor, the combination,with a meter having a movable arm 19, of coin-receiving mechanism comprising an inclined coin-chute 15, a coin-lever 16, having one arm arranged below the inner end of said coin-chute and the other arm recessed to act as a stop to said movable arm 19, a divider arranged within said chute and above said lever, a second coin-chute 21 at the inner side of said divider, a cam 23, actuated by said meter when delivering gas, and a starting-lever 20, arranged above said coinchute 15 and capable of being operated from the exterior of the apparatus and of depressing the lower end of said coin-lever 16 through a coin carried thereby, substantially as herein CIIARLES MIDDLEBROOK.

Witnesses:

EDMUND S. SNEWIN, PERCY E. MATTOGKs, Both of 2 Popes Head Alley, Cornhili, Lon

don, E. O. 

